There is urgent need for the Government of Guyana to draft and implement regulations as well as guidelines that would seek to further strengthen and enhance the quality of pageants that are held locally to select the country’s beauty ambassadors.
These regulations and standards could emanate from a national multi-stakeholder forum that is hosted at the invitation of the Ministries of Business, Tourism, Education and Youth. The forum could be seen as a focal point for information sharing and capacity building from all those who form part of the local pageant and fashion-related sub-industries.
It could also be used as an opportunity for the directors, executives and coordinators of community, regional and national pageants to have dialogue about the state of the industry and the challenges that are currently affecting its ability to flourish and achieve its full potential.
The truth is, the local pageant industry since the turn of the new millennium has been dogged by scandal after scandal depending on who were the principals of the pageant, behind the scene actors, sponsors, and delegates.
For far too long, these young women have been the victims of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, economic exploitation and outright fraud. They have suffered and endured a lot to get to the finish line only to emerge successful and realise that the worst is still ahead. There have been countless stories of pageant delegates being promised a number of prizes, gifts, employment and endorsement if they emerge as the victors of their respective competitions, but many times end up with half or none of the promised bounty.
Delegates are often left to fend for themselves despite pageant coordinators collecting entry fees, sponsorship revenue and other forms of in-kind contribution from corporate Guyana to make an event happen or fully sponsor a delegate or segment.
There have been stories where Guyana’s representatives turn up at international pageant events which attracts millions of viewers around the world poorly trained, prepared and resourced to compete in the first place much less purport to represent the essence of Guyanese women.
The situation locally reached its pinnacle last year with damning allegations being made against one of Guyana’s national pageant franchise holders and more recently, a decision to cancel the historic Miss Linden Town Week Pageant after reprehensible allegations that there was an attempt to sexually assault some delegates who were seeking sponsorship.
These must not be seen as isolated instances since they happen on a larger scale but are hushed up by those who are responsible for various pageants out of fear that the pageant’s reputation may be impugned, and their image maligned.
Also, the regulations must address the manner in which delegates are selected and the pageant themselves funded and executed. Guyana needs to abandon the principle of choosing delegates for a particular pageant, weeks or two months before the actual event. They girls should undergo months of coaching and preparations that are aimed at improving their overall welfare and well-being.
Our representatives are disadvantaged when there is not enough effort placed into sending well-rounded not only beautiful representatives abroad to represent Guyana. While many of the young ladies – Lisa Punch, Alana Seebarran, Soyini Fraser, Rafieya Hussain and a few others have defied odds by securing resounding success internationally, there is need for us to regulate the industry and bring back order and methodology in order for Guyanese girls to be given a good chance at securing fame and prestige internationally on behalf of Guyana.
